A2 Vocabulary — Technology & the internet
Key words to talk about devices, websites, and everyday online actions.
A2 Pre-intermediate
Technology
Everyday English
1. Everyday devices
Common gadgets we use at home, at work, or at school.
- laptop = a computer you can close and carry. I took my laptop to the café to study.
- desktop = a bigger computer that usually stays on a desk. He has a powerful desktop in his office.
- tablet = a small flat computer with a touch screen. I read books on my tablet on the bus.
- smartphone = a modern mobile phone that works like a mini computer. She uses her smartphone to check emails.
2. Parts of a computer
- screen = the flat part where you see pictures and text. This monitor has a very big screen.
- keyboard = the part with keys you press to write. Please clean your keyboard regularly.
- mouse = a small device you move with your hand to control the cursor. Move the mouse to click on the button.
- touchpad = the flat area on a laptop you move with your finger. I prefer using the touchpad to a mouse.
- touchscreen = a screen you can touch to control the device. The touchscreen stopped working in the rain.
- speaker = a device that makes the sound louder. We connected a speaker to watch the film.
- headphones = you wear them on your ears to listen privately. He listened to music with his headphones on.
3. Small gadgets & storage
- pen drive / flash drive = a very small device for saving files that you plug into a computer. I saved the photos on a flash drive.
We often say plug a flash drive in or copy files to a flash drive.
4. The internet: basic nouns
- website = a page or group of pages on the internet. You can book tickets on the airline’s website.
- URL = the internet address of a website. I sent her the URL in a message.
- browser = the program you use to open websites. Chrome is the browser I use most.
- link = text or a picture you can click to open another page. Click this link to join the meeting.
- tab = one open page inside your browser window. Open the article in a new tab.
- social media = websites and apps for sharing photos, videos, and messages. I use social media to stay in touch with friends.
- attachment = a file that you send with an email. Please see the report in the attachment.
- streaming = watching or listening online without downloading first. We watch most films on a streaming service.
5. Starting and stopping devices
- plug in = connect a device to electricity. The printer doesn’t work because it isn’t plugged in.
- unplug = remove the cable from the socket. Please unplug the charger when you finish.
- charge = give power to the battery. I need to charge my phone tonight.
- switch on / turn on = start a device. She switched on her laptop at work.
- switch off / turn off = stop a device. Remember to switch off the computer.
6. Accounts & going online
- sign in / log in = enter your name and password to open an account. You must log in to see your messages.
- sign out / log out = close the account when you finish. I always sign out on a public computer.
- go online = connect to the internet. I usually go online before breakfast.
Notice the preposition: we log in to an account.
7. Files & scrolling
- upload = send a file from your device to the internet or a cloud service. She uploaded the photos to a shared folder.
- download = copy a file from the internet to your device. Is it safe to download this app?
- scroll up / down = move the page on the screen to see higher or lower information. Scroll down to read the comments.
- share = give other people access to a file or link. He shared the document with the whole team.
8. Helpful patterns
- We normally say go online, watch something online, share a link.
- Use device verbs in the present continuous to talk about now: I’m downloading the file at the moment.
- Remember the prepositions: log in to / log out of an account, upload photos to the cloud, share a file with someone.
Exercises:
Technology & the Internet
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
I take my
to the café; it’s a computer I can fold and carry in my bag.
Correct:
A laptop is a portable computer you can fold and put in a bag.
2
At the office I work on a
with a big screen, a separate keyboard and a mouse.
Correct:
A desktop is a big computer that usually stays on a desk.
3
For reading in bed I use a
– it’s bigger than a phone but smaller than a laptop.
Correct:
A tablet is a flat computer between a phone and a laptop in size.
4
She checks messages on her
on the bus every morning.
Correct:
A mobile phone with apps and internet is a smartphone.
5
The
is too dark; I can’t see the picture well.
Correct:
The part of a device you look at is the screen.
6
Please type your password on the
.
Correct:
You press keys on a keyboard to write on a computer.
7
Click on the icon with your
and open the folder.
Correct:
You move the pointer and click with a computer mouse.
8
On my laptop I don’t use a mouse; I move my finger on the
under the keys.
Correct:
A small flat area on a laptop that you touch is the touchpad.
9
On my phone I tap the
to open apps.
Correct:
A screen you can touch to control the device is a touchscreen.
10
We connected a
to the computer so everyone in the room can hear the music.
Correct:
A speaker plays sound loudly into the room.
11
I wear
so only I can hear the music and I don’t disturb other people.
Correct:
You put headphones on your ears to listen privately.
12
I saved the file on my
and put it in my pocket.
Correct:
A small thing you plug into a USB port to save files is a pen drive / flash drive.
13
Evo-English is a
with vocabulary and grammar lessons.
Correct:
A collection of pages on the internet is a website.
14
The exact address of a page, like “https://www.evo-english.com”, is called a
.
Correct:
The written address of a page on the internet is a URL.
15
Chrome is a popular
people use to open websites.
Correct:
A program like Chrome or Firefox is a browser.
16
Click this
to go to our homepage.
Correct:
A word or button you click to open a page is a link.
17
I have YouTube open in one
and my email in another.
Correct:
Each page at the top of your browser window is a tab.
18
Instagram and TikTok are examples of
where people share photos and videos.
Correct:
Instagram, TikTok and Facebook are social media platforms.
19
Please see the
– I’ve added the PDF file to the email.
Correct:
A file you send with an email is an attachment.
20
Netflix is a
service; the video plays online without downloading.
Correct:
Watching video or listening to audio live on the internet is called streaming.
Technology & the Internet
Match the sentences with the words
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